Differential Item Functioning Results May Change Depending on How an Item Is Scored: An Illustration with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.

Gelin, Michaela N.; Zumbo, Bruno D.

Educational and Psychological Measurement, v63 n1 p65-74 Feb 2003

Investigated potentially biased scale items on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D; Radloff, 1977) in a sample of 600 adults. Overall, results indicate that the scoring method has an effect on differential item functioning (DIF), and that DIF is a property of the item, scoring method, and purpose of the assessment. (SLD)